Sports Hero of the Week: Nico Rosberg

Last Saturday, German Formula 1 Driver Nico Rosberg came out of nowhere to qualify at pole position in the Chinese Grand Prix. Then, on Sunday, the 26-year-old went a step further and registered his first career win by surprising the best in the business.

Rosberg, whose Formula 1 career began back in 2006, was never considered a serious threat to the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. However, he pulled through in his Mercedes to deliver the performance of a lifetime, as he finished the race a good 20.626 seconds ahead of Button.

Rosberg's fellow drivers and experts were surprised by these turn of events in Shanghai, which have blown the drivers' standings wide open. Given that his team only made a return to Formula 1 in 2010, this is a tremendous achievement for both the driver and the constructor. What's even more stunning is the fact that Mercedes' last Formula 1 win was back in 1955 in Italy, when the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio powered them to the chequered flag.

Meanwhile, Rosberg has steadily risen up the ranks in his six years in Formula 1. While driving for Williams for four seasons, he was able to score vital points time and again for his mid-range team. He clearly belonged behind the wheel of a better car--which is why Mercedes annouced him as their first driver upon their return to Formula 1!

Rosberg didn't disappoint, and he validated his team's faith in him by finishing seventh in the drivers' standings in 2010; he repeated that feat in 2011! During this time, he was able to clock five podium finishes. However, a win somehow eluded him--that is until the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix. For someone who hadn't scored a single point in the first two races of the season, Rosberg's maiden Formula 1 win was truly a memorable one.

We're sure this win was not a fluke and we're also certain that Rosberg is not a one-hit wonder. After all, he does have one of the most experienced and successful teammates in the sport--a certain Michael Schumacher. He's definitely picked up a trick or two from the great Schumy by now, and he will be a force to reckon with for the rest of the season.

So for registering an unlikely win at the Chinese Grand Prix after six long years of trying, Nico Rosberg is our sports hero of the week.